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Firefighters supportive of police, but not challenging residency requirement

Pittsburgh police required to live in city limits

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Updated: 8:06 PM EST Nov 4, 2013

City of Pittsburgh employees, including police officers, are required to live in the city, but the Fraternal Order of Police hopes to change that by challenging the residency requirement.

Firefighters supportive of police, but not challenging residency requirement

Pittsburgh police required to live in city limits

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Updated: 8:06 PM EST Nov 4, 2013

PITTSBURGH —

City of Pittsburgh employees, including police officers, are required to live in the city, but the Fraternal Order of Police hopes to change that by challenging the residency requirement.

During the arbitration process, City Council moved to place a referendum on the ballot that would require all city employees to live in the city. If approved, the rule would be part of the city charter.

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"I've been a staunch believer in the need for those employees to live in the city," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

While Ravenstahl encouraged city voters to check "yes" on the ballot, he admitted it may not stick.

"The arbitration process is one that is kind of stacked against the city, in long-term, I don't know how successful," he said.

The FOP has declined to comment, saying it might after an arbitration decision is made. Meanwhile, firefighters, who are required to live in the city under state law, say they don't plan to argue.

"We do support our police on their desire to move out of the city -- that's their decision -- but think there's some confusion that the firefighters are asking as well, and that's not the case," Ralph Sicuro, vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1.

Sicuro said they're not involved in the police fight against residency restrictions, but they stand behind the police union's ability to target negotiations.

"I think everybody's jumped the gun a little bit assuming the police are going to win the right to leave the city through a negotiation price, and I think it's a little unfair though for the council to go ahead and try and take their rights away to negotiate this issue," said Sicuro.